Kalanchoe plant named ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new Kalanchoe cultivar named ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ characterized by the combined features of a three color effect on flowers opening a light yellow turning to white and fading to pink, excellent basal branching, and superior keeping quality.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and known by the cultivar name ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’. ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ was developed in a controlled breeding program in Ashtabula, Ohio by crossing Mikkelsen Seedling No. 93-222-11 (seed parent) (unpatented) with Mikkelsen Seedling No. 93-147-6 (pollen parent) (unpatented). The seed and pollen parents are proprietary breeding lines which have not been sold or made publicly available in this country. The plant is perennial, but typically used as an annual in the floriculture industry.

Asexual reproduction by stem cuttings taken by the inventor in Lompoc, Calif. has shown the the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stabilized and are reproduced true to type in successive propagations.

The following characteristics distinguish the new Kalanchoe from other cultivated Kalanchoes of this type known to the inventor. The characteristics are described with comparative reference to the cultivars Mount Robson (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,343) and Forever Maxi White (unpatented).

1. ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ opens to Yellow Group 10B and fades to White Group 155B which fades to Pink Group 56C producing a three color effect while ‘Mount Robson’ and ‘Forever Maxi White’ open to Yellow Group 10C and fades to White Groups 155C and 155D, respectively.

2. ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ has a more mounded growth habit while ‘Mount Robson’ and ‘Forever Maxi White’ have a more upright growth habit.

3. ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ is more compact at 15 cm than ‘Mount Robson’ at 18 cm and ‘Forever Maxi White’ at 21 cm.

4. ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ has better keeping quality with flowers lasting 7 to 10 days longer than ‘Mount Robson’ flowers. ‘Forever Maxi White’ has similar keeping quality to ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’.

5. ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ has better basal branching than ‘Mount Robson’ and ‘Forever Maxi White’.

6. ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ has white mature stigmatic surface which is similar to ‘Forever Maxi White’ while ‘Mount Robson’ has a red-purple cast when mature.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of this cultivar, as described in detail below, taken as a face view of the plant and showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type.

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar, based on plants produced in greenhouses in Lompoc, Calif. during the Winter season of the year. Plants were grown in 10 cm pots and measurements were taken 13 weeks after rooted cuttings were planted. Height measurements were taken from the soil line of the container. The plants were grown at 16° C. night temperatures, 3000-4000 foot candles of light, and 200 ppm nitrogen, 75 ppm potassium, and 200 ppm phosphorous nutritional levels, with trace elements added. Habit of growth, foliage coloration, size of leaves, and peduncle length will be greatly influenced by nutritional and environmental conditions.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictiontary significance are used.

Parentage: A controlled cross between female parent Mikkelsen Seedling No. 93-922-11 and male parent Mikkelsen Seedling No. 93-147-6.

Propagation:

(A) Type cutting.—Stem tip cuttings up to 3 cm long.

(B) Time to root.—10 days at 21° C. summer; 12 days at 21° C. winter.

(C) Rooting habit.—Fine, fibrous, abundant.

Plant description:

Habit and form of growth.—Compact, semi-mounded, excellent basal branching; flower clusters bloom above foliage. Environment and use of growth regulators will play a role in final height. Average height is 15 cm and average width is 20 cm. Internode length is typically 10 mm. Main stem diameter is 10 mm, stem texture is smooth glabrous, and stem color is Yellow-Green Group 147A.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple and opposite. Leaves are petiolate and petioles are Yellow-Green Group 147A having a length of 12 mm and a width of 5 mm. Size: Average, full grown leaves on a plant when grown in a 10 cm pot are 9 to 10 cm long and 5.5 to 6 cm wide. Shape: Ovate with obtuse apex and acute base. Texture: Glabrous; coriaceous and succulent. Margin: Crenate; shallow lobed. Color: Young foliage top side is Yellow-Green Group 146A, underside is Yellow-Green Group 146B; mature foliage top side is Yellow-Green Group 147A, underside is Yellow-Green Group 147B.

Branching.—Average number of lateral branches is 8. The average lateral branch length is 10 cm and average lateral branch diameter is 5 mm. The branch texture is smooth, glabrous and color is Yellow-Green Group 147A.

Flowering description:

Flowering habits.—Inflorescence is a compound dichasial cyme. Terminal flower on main axis opens first followed by the terminal flowers of the side branches, continuing with the subsequent development of branches in the inflorescence. Inflorescence is made up of the main stem and up to 8 or more lateral branches depending on growing schedule followed.

Natural flowering season.—Early January. Flowering time under controlled daylength (10 hours daylight, 14 hours darkness) at 20° C. in summer is 8.5 to 9 weeks; in winter is 10 to 10.5 weeks. Flowering time depends on temperature, light intensity and other growing conditions.

Flower buds.—Oblong, up to 10 mm long before showing color, developing to tubular as flower petals mature; sheathed in four (4) sepals colored Yellow-Green Group 144A. Sepals are individual with a lanceolate shape. Sepals are 8 mm long and 2 mm wide.

Flowers borne.—Compound dichasial cyme with primary peduncle being 4 mm in diameter just below the first branch of the inflorescence; length of peduncle will vary depending on growing conditions. The average number of peduncles is 10, with an average length of 8 cm, average diameter of 5 mm, smooth glabrous texture, and Yellow-Green Group 147A color. The average number of pedicels is 250, with an average length of 3 mm, average diameter of 1 mm, smooth glabrous texture, and Yellow-Green Group 147A color. Pedicels vary in length depending on where they are in the inflorescence.

Quantity of flowers.—Numerous flowers on the main stem plus the 8 or more lateral branches will have 25 or more flowers each. Approximate time period for bloom lastingness is 4 to 6 weeks. The florets are flat in shape.

Petals.—Shape: Almost rounded, top cuspidate. Color: Top side when opening is Yellow Group 10B fading to White Group 155B fading to Red Group 56C. Underside is Red Group 56D. Number of petals: 4.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: 8 in number, with an average size of 3 mm not fused to the petal. Anthers: Flat, elliptical in shape, yellow-green in color. Filament color: Yellow-green. Pollen: Abundant, yellow. Pistils: Average of 4 per flower with an average size of 12 mm. Stigma: Flat in shape, mature color is white. Style color: Light green. Ovaries: 4 in number, size 7 mm when immature, color green.

Fertility.—The plants are fertile, but do not normally set seed under greenhouse or garden conditions unless in a controlled crossing program.

Disease resistance: ‘Forever Midi Sunset Pink’ has shown resistance to powdery mildew. No disease problems have been observed to date.

OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS

1. Due to highly branched compact habit can be finished in a 10 cm pot without use of growth regulators.

2. Excellent flower coverage over top and sides of plants because of the excellent basal branching.

3. Has unique flower color combination on plant as opens light yellow, turns to white and fades to pink, thus, can have all 3 flower colors in flower cluster open at the same time.

4. Pinching is not required or recommended. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Forever 